The Mortar Foundation Inc
The Mortar Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Sausalito, California. It reported 18 grants totaling $229,757 in 2025 to organizations working in areas including recovery, mental health, youth support, and community services.
The Mortar Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Mortar Foundation Inc gave $230K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), top state New Mexico. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $229,757
- +24.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +63.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,764
- -24.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,392
- Total assets
- $3,146,598
- +1.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mortar Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It advises prospective organizations to contact the foundation for details about forms, materials, and award restrictions.
- Review Cycle
- N/A, as stated on the filing.
- Deadline
- N/A, as stated on the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: The Mortar Foundation
Mailing address: 250 Currey Lane, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: (415) 260-6331
Website: https://mortarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mortar Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was She Recovers Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $225K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 70 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in New Mexico (44%), California (42%), Massachusetts (9%), Minnesota (4%), and Florida (0%, as reported).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Mortar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 18 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $622 repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 135% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 237% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2021) to $230K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $230K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| She Recovers Foundation Santa Fe, NM | Support causes for women | $100,000 |
| Hispanics in Philanthropy-HipGive San Francisco, CA | Further the Hispanic and Latino Community | $25,000 |
| Everyorg San Francisco, CA | Support for organization who helps raise more money and strengthen their relationships with donors. | $25,000 |
| Mindshift Recovery Inc Scituate, MA | Help people move beyond problematic substance use so that they thrive. | $20,000 |
| Social Environmental Entrepreneurs Calabasas, CA | To empower individuals to take action towards creating positive change in the communities. | $20,000 |
| Access Institute for Psychological San Francisco, CA | Assist in mental health | $12,191 |
| About-Face Media Literacy San Francisco, CA | About-Face equips teen girls with knowledge and tools to question media messages and support their mental health. | $10,000 |
| Doc's Recovery House Rochester, MN | Support of a recovery community organization | $10,000 |
| San Francisco-Marin Food Bank San Francisco, CA | To end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. | $1,437 |
| Huckleberry Youth Programs Inc San Francisco, CA | Works in solidarity with young people and their families to advance their personal growth and social equity. | $1,347 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mortar Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,146,598 | $282,144 | $386,977 | $229,757 | 18 | $348,008 | $248,175 | $146,917 |
| 2024 | $3,116,097 | $189,120 | $338,071 | $184,668 | 11 | $306,875 | $157,924 | $146,946 |
| 2023 | $2,994,862 | $43,459 | $380,943 | $186,686 | 13 | $343,121 | $53,976 | $142,335 |
| 2022 | $3,005,263 | $225,327 | $282,436 | $97,595 | 16 | $236,182 | $191,444 | $155,508 |
| 2021 | $3,851,330 | $339,767 | $215,912 | $41,129 | 12 | $180,378 | $308,377 | $166,291 |
| 2020 | $3,435,737 | $59,036 | $371,289 | $129,588 | 9 | — | $60,757 | — |
| 2019 | $3,568,483 | $140,384 | $701,930 | $114,092 | 12 | — | $81,601 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mortar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $147K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address women’s recovery, addiction services, mental health, media literacy, youth development, and food access. For example, She Recovers Foundation says its mission is to inspire hope, reduce stigma, and empower women in or seeking recovery; Mindshift Recovery says it provides evidence-based digital and in-person tools for people struggling with addiction; and Huckleberry Youth Programs says it supports underserved youth to develop healthy life choices and realize their potential.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 18 grants totaling $229,757. Grant amounts ranged from $154 to $100,000, with a median of $1,392.
The largest reported grants included $100,000 to She Recovers Foundation, $25,000 each to Hispanics in Philanthropy-HipGive and Everyorg, and $20,000 each to Mindshift Recovery Inc and Social Environmental Entrepreneurs. Other grants included $12,191 to Access Institute for Psychological and $10,000 each to About-Face Media Literacy and Doc’s Recovery House.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paula Viragh-Williams as CEO, Amanda Viragh as Vice President, Charlotte Williams as Secretary, and Georgia Williams as CFO.
The Mortar Foundation Inc is led by Paula Viragh-Williams, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paula Viragh-Williams
CEO
President → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$100K (2019) → $107K (2025)
Amanda Viragh
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Charlotte Williams
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Georgia Williams
CFO
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mark Williams (2019–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $107K, to Paula Viragh-Williams (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about The Mortar Foundation Inc
How much does The Mortar Foundation Inc give each year?
The Mortar Foundation Inc gave $230K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $185K across 11 grants.
What is The Mortar Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Mortar Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,392, and its average grant was $12,764, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mortar Foundation Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Mortar Foundation Inc give grants?
The Mortar Foundation Inc's top state is New Mexico, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (42%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (9 grants).
Does The Mortar Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Mortar Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Mortar Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Mortar Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include She Recovers Foundation ($100,000), Hispanics in Philanthropy-HipGive ($25,000) and Everyorg ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Mortar Foundation Inc?
The Mortar Foundation Inc reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $348K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $147K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mortar Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address women’s recovery, addiction services, mental health, media literacy, youth development, and food access. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mortar Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mortar Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Mortar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0510976. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Mortar Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mortar Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Viragh Family Foundation
Bethesda, MD
The Viragh Family Foundation funds education, youth services, literacy, mental health, housing assistance, and family services, with 2025 grants ranging from $10,000 to $400,000 and a median of $40,000. Its grants are concentrated in Missouri, California, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Nevada. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$39.0M
Grants
43
Total Given
$2.4M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund
San Francisco, CA
The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund supports equality and justice work, including democracy, immigrant rights, college success, leadership, environmental stewardship, and community initiatives. In 2024, it made 180 grants totaling $24.5 million, with a median grant of $33,250; most funding went to California. It does not accept unsolicited requests, and grant-portal access is by invitation only.
Assets
$484.0M
Grants
180
Total Given
$24.5M
McNabb Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The McNabb Foundation’s website describes support for behavioral health and social services in East Tennessee, while its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions, mostly in California. Grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$4.8M
Grants
328
Total Given
$358K
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mortar Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mortar-foundation-inc-morg_50ebb1feeb6342faad24c88293d41f8a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300510976_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mortar Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mortar-foundation-inc-morg_50ebb1feeb6342faad24c88293d41f8a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Mortar Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Mortar Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?